DoesTheMath

AMERICAN GPVT-40 2** vs FRIEDRICH PROP G40-50* RH HE EC3: which uses less energy?

At the high draw pattern the FRIEDRICH PROP G40-50* RH HE EC3 uses 188 therms a year and the AMERICAN GPVT-40 2** 242 — 54 therms (22%) less, about 537 therms over ten years. Both are filed as a gas tank, so the comparison holds. Enter your ZIP below to price the difference.

Side by side

Compared within one class only: models filed as a gas tank at the high draw pattern.

Filed and computed figures
AMERICAN GPVT-40 2** FRIEDRICH PROP G40-50* RH HE EC3
UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) 0.7 0.9 (better)
Energy use per year (therms) 242 188 (better)
First hour rating (gal) 87 88
Rated storage volume (gal) 38 40
Installed cost range $1,993–$3,665 not published
ENERGY STAR certified not matched yes
On the market since not filed 2022-11-07
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

What it costs to run

AMERICAN GPVT-40 2**: 242 therms a year FRIEDRICH PROP G40-50* RH HE EC3: 188 therms a year

AMERICAN GPVT-40 2** — 242 therms a year FRIEDRICH PROP G40-50* RH HE EC3 — 188 therms a year

FRIEDRICH PROP G40-50* RH HE EC3 is 54 therms a year lower than AMERICAN GPVT-40 2**.

DOE CCD · 2026-09-19

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Enter your ZIP to price both units on the same rate where you live.

Reliability

Not published: Reliability, failure rates and each model’s actual warranty term.

The registries these figures come from certify energy performance under a federal test; none of them records how long a unit lasts or how often it fails, so this page does not rank the two on reliability.

What is here instead:

  • The filed efficiency, capacity and tank size of both models, side by side below.
  • The actual warranty term is printed in each model’s documentation, not in any registry.

Which should you pick?

  • Pick the FRIEDRICH PROP G40-50* RH HE EC3 if running cost matters most: it uses 54 therms less a year on the same test.
  • Pick the AMERICAN GPVT-40 2** if it is the one you can get installed sooner or for less — on the filed figures it has no advantage over the FRIEDRICH PROP G40-50* RH HE EC3.
  • Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 88 gallons of hot water — neither lists more. Check whether a 40-gallon heater is enough.

Each model on its own

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